Fledgling Democratic Structures In U.s.s.r 'Fascinate' Byron

Though in her 13th year in the U.S. House of Representatives, Beverly B. Byron, D-6th, admits she doesn't know it all about the democratic process.

Imagine her wonder last week during a trip to Moscow for a conference with newly elected Soviet leaders charged with building a new government and a new society almost from scratch.

"It was fascinating," Byron said after her annual meeting yesterday afternoon with the Carroll Commissioners.

Byron was one of fiveHouse members who took part in the Soviet-American Inter-Parliamentary Exchange, arranged by the International Center, a non-profit foreign policy organization based in Washington.

The exchange surely wasn't the first time U.S. and Soviet leaders huddled for a conference.But unlike previous such events, where world issues and lofty governing problems were the topics of discussion, the agenda for last week's sessions included some rudimentary items.

The conference focusedon assisting the Soviets with the transition to democracy. Topics included: how a political hopeful can conduct a campaign; how elected leaders conduct a meeting and put together a budget; the distinctions between the legislative, executive and judicial branches.

"It was like Political Science 101 (class)," Byron said.

The past year of monumental social and economic reform and upheaval in the Soviet Union gave the participants plenty to talk about. The legislators met with members of the Russian Federation -- who are equivalent to state senators -- and members of the Supreme Soviet, the country's ruling body.

The exchange was the first of what is hoped will be a twice-yearly event alternating between sites in the United States and Soviet Union, said John Fitzpatrick, public affairs director for the International Center.

Though no one was sure what to expect of the inaugural conference, Fitzpatrick said simply getting it together was a success in itself.

"Things are pretty goofed up in the U.S.S.R., and that fact that we could actually hold a conference and overcome the logistical problems involved was just amazing," said Fitzpatrick, who accompanied the delegation.

The conference was cut short when the legislators were called home to take part in Saturday's congressional vote to authorize President George Bush to use force in the Persian Gulf.

The group departed before Soviet paratroopers were dispatchedto quash an uprising in the Baltic Republic of Lithuania. On Saturday, 13 people were killed and many others wounded when troops opened fire on unarmed citizens of Vilnius.

But the tension in the Baltic region was on the rise long before the shooting, and the conference participants were able to query their hosts on the situation.

Byronsaid the U.S. legislators assured their Soviet counterparts that theuse of force in Lithuania would "strain relations all over."

NOTE: Paragraph and half at the end of the first column of this story in the paper is incorrect. The above version is the correct one.